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G. M. PHELPS. SIGNAL BOX FOR DISTRICT AND AL ARM TBLE GBAPHS. No.253.759.

N4 PETERS Phowulhn n her. Washinglun. D. c,

UETE FFI PATENT GEORGE M. PHELPS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,759, dated February14, 1882.

Application filed December 13, 1881.

Improvement in Signal-Boxes for District and Alarm Telegraphs, of which,the following is a description, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings.

.The object of this invention is to enable subscribers to automaticallytransmit'various predetermined signals to a central office, as to summona messenger, the police, or fire department.

The transmission of signals in a district-telegraph system is ordinarilyeffected by making and breaking the circuit through the agency of asliding bar or rotary wheel provided with teeth arranged in one or moregroups or series. The different signals are therefore understood by thevarious combinations of makes and breaks of the circuit and the periodof time intervening between each pulsation or series of pulsations.Signals thus transmitted are ordinarily registered upon anelectromagnetic bell or a receiving-register of an y appropriate form.Each make and break registers a stroke on the bell or a mark on thereceiving-register, and as it is necessary, in order to render thesignals intelligible, to distinguish theinterval of time occurringbetween two beats of any one series from the period between the lastbeat of one series and the first stroke of the next, it is essentialthat the "elocity of rotation of the transmitting circuit-breaker,whether a rotary wheel or sliding bar, should have at least anapproximately uniform velocity of rotation.

My invention has for its object the uniform rotation of a rotarycircuit-breaker which is impelled by the hand of an operator through theagency ofacrank; and to this end the shaft of the hand-crank andcircuit-breaking wheel are connected by a spiral or volute spring, andthe movement of the circuit-breaking wheel is governed and renderedapproximately uniform by means of an escapement, notwithstanding thefact that more power is applied to the crank and greater velocityattained at certain points of its revolution than at others. At themaximum and above the mean of the irregular velocity of the crank, powerwill be stored in the volute spring, which will only be expended tomaintain the velocity of the circuit-breaker (No model.)

during intervals when less than a mean force is applied to the crank.

Referringto the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the mechanism ofmy improvedbox. Figs. 2 and 3 are rear views. Fig. 4 is a transverseview through line a; 00, Fig. 1.

The casing or box of the mechanism is preferably of cast-iron. The frontand sides may be cast in one piece, and a back of sheet-iron or somelight material may be fitted therein. The box is provided with ears E bywhich it may be fastened to its support.

In Figs. 2 and 3, Ais a wheel, in theperiphery of which are out teeth,preferably about twenty to the inch. The ratchet-bar a is provided witha weight, a, and forms an escapement, pivoted at g. Any suitableformofescapement will answer the purpose, however.

B is a circuit-wheel,.having projections or teeth upon its peripheryarranged in groups, so that any group, or combination of two or moregroups, will indicate the signal which the box is designed to register.

d is an arbor, to which the crank G is firmly attached.

the arbor d. The central part of the wheel B is reamed out sufficientlyto allow the spiral or volute spring 8, Fig. 3, to be sunk therein. Theouter end of this spring is fastened to the wheel B at s, and the innerend is fastened to the arbor d at d.

On the front side of wheel A is placed a projecting stop or pin, 1).

From the arbor d, carrying crank 0, projects a spring, P. When the arbord is revolved by movement of crank O the spring P strikes the pin 10 andcarries wheel A with it, provided the velocity of rotation of crank O issufficient to gain one revolution upon the speed of wheel A propelled bythe recoil of spring 8.

S is a finger or spring attached to the insulated sorew-cup G, and soplaced that the teeth of the wheel D when rotated will make contacttherewith.

L is a screw-cup for the reception of the linewire, and is in metallicconnection with wheel B. Screw-cup G is for the reception of theground-wire or earth-connection.

Crank 0 is provided upon its under side with a fiat spring, 0, whichsinks into a shallow slot in the edge of the box when crank G is at itsThe circuit-wheel B is firmly fastened to the wheel A. Both play freelyupon starting-point, thus arresting it at the end of a revolution.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The person desiring tosend a signal turns the crank O in the direction of the arrows, Figs. 1,2, once around. This tends to coil spring 8 on the arbor 1; but thespring im-.

mediately, when crank O is started, begins to recoil, carrying wheels Band A with it in the direction in which the crank is turned. The wheelsA and B revolve with a substantially uniform speed, regardless of thespeed of rotation of crank 0, their movement being controlled andrendered nearly uniform by escapement to. As the wheels revolve theteeth or projections on wheel B make contact with the finger S, thuscompleting and closing the circuit on earth at each contact between theprojections of wheel B and finger S. it will be understood that thisform of the signal-box is intended for operation in a circuit normallyopen, so that at each contact between wheel B and finger S the circuitwill be closed and the receivinginstrument actuated to register acharacter, and with one revolution of the wheel the receiving-instrumentat the central station will be actuated to register a signal comprisingcharacters in one or more groups,

according to the construction of wheel B in any particular instance. Pin9 in the wheel A prevents the crank from making a movement of more thanone rotation in its advance during the time the wheels aremaking one ormore revolutions, as spring P cannot pass pin 9.

The mechanism can be adapted to the closed circuit system by arrangingfinger S to make contact with wheel B in its normal position in a mannerwell understood.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic signal-box, the combination of a crank capable ofcontinuous rotation in one direction, an automatic circuit-breakercapable of continuous rotation in the same direction as that of thecrank, and a volute spring whose opposite ends are respectivelyconnected to said crank and circuit-breaker.

2. In an automatic signal-box, the combination of a crank capable ofcontinuous rotation in one direction, an automatic circuit-breakercapable of continuous rotation in the same direction as that of thecrank, a volute spring whose opposite ends are respectively connected tothe crank and circuit-breaker, and an escapement or governor forrendering the movement of the circuit-breaker uniform.

3. An automatic circuit-breaker having a stop upon its disk, and a crankoperating said circuit-breaker through the medium ota spring, whereby inthe rotation of the automatic circuit-breaker the crank cannot revolvein advance of said circuit-breaker to the extent of more than onerevolution.

GEO.- M. PHELPS.

Witnesses W. B. VANSIZE, WM. ARNOUX.

